Hard times, but not deprived

Ruby Jean Flemming - Crowson sadly passed away on October 2 at the age of 85 after a short illness in Gosford Hospital,.

Ruby's funeral took place graveside on October 9 at Pt Clare Cemetery.

Ruby was laid to rest with her first husband, Stan Flemming.

She married Stan at Abbotsford in 1944.

They were married for 43 years.

Their first home was in Warwick farm, then they moved to Wentworthville.

Stan knew that Ruby had a dream and that was to live by the beach.

So in 1987, they moved to Ettalong; where Ruby could have her dream.

Stan had not told her that he was very ill and he wanted her to have her dream place to live in after he was gone.

Stan worked for Hardies and died in 1987 of lung cancer.

Ruby was loved and respected by all who met her.

Ruby met everyone with a smile that was that big and glowed with that much warmth you just had to love her.

Ruby had time for everyone, be it family, a friend or neighbor.

Ruby was one of a large family born into the Hill family Her birth took place at home in Five Dock on April 18, 1922.

She was born into an era when mothers had children at home and mothers stayed at home, making a home for their families and husband.

She was proud to be a homemaker loving every minute that she spent with her family.

She loved each and every one of her children and was very proud of them.

She saw her children through many troubled times and hard times, never complaining.

She said that the good times made up for the rough bits in life.

Starting her married life with secondhand furniture, no credit cards, and no car to go shopping in, just a shopping basket over her arm as she walked to the shops for the weekly groceries.

The washing took hours, as she had to stand beside the copper to keep it on the boil so she had hot water to wash with and boil the cloths in.

She had an icebox to keep things from going off and a strong broom to sweep the floors clean: No fancy vacuum cleaner or fancy carpet, just lino to scrub on her hands and knees each week.

She did not think she was deprived.

She had everything in life that she wanted, a husband who loved her and much wanted children.

The loss of Stan broke Ruby's heart and she was a lost soul for sometime.

One day a gentleman said to her: "Hello, may I carry those heavy bags for you?"

This was the start of Ruby's heart mending.

That gentleman was Keith Crowson.

Her heart slowly started to mend.

She never forgot the past love in her life as Keith never forgot his past love but together they found happiness again.

Slowly, they became one the best soul mates and they married on April 8, 1995.

They had 12 happy years together.

Ruby is survived by her husband Keith, brother George, sister Doris, her children Graham, Sharon, Warren, Mark and Linda, her many grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be sadly missed by Keith's children and grandchildren.

Diana Johnston Umina